Marilyn’s Theda Bara costume from her ‘Fabled Enchantresses’ shoot with photographer Richard Avedon (for LIFE magazine’s December 1958 issue) is among the Monroe-related items going under the hammer at Heritage Auctions on Wednesday, July 16.
The costume was first sold for $46,000 at Christie’s in 1999, as part of The Personal Property of Marilyn Monroe.
“Costume consists of a skirt of orange and yellow chiffon scarves attached to a gold lamé bikini bottom with an ornate belt of embossed leather encrusted with amber colored faux jewels, a gold lamé top with metal chain halter designed with snake motif cups with faux emerald ‘snake eyes’ and centre textured metal gold-toned ring with four amber colored faux jewels, together with matching snake motif headdress of padded gold textured fabric with three amber colored faux jewels and hanging faux chainmail ornamentation on each temple, and three textured imitation gold metal bangles. Costume exhibits expected age, with some missing and partially detached faux jewels; belt leather is detached in areas with loose/detached trim pieces and missing ornamental ring; one chiffon scarf is detached but present.”
Signed by Avedon, a first-edition 1983 poster of Marilyn as the silent movie vamp is also on offer separately, as part of Heritage Auctions’ Hollywood/Entertainment Signature event.
SOLD for $1,375
Among the other lots is this intriguing item, a business card for Andrew J. Paris – the Texas-based, self-styled ‘World’s Bubblegum King’ – with Marilyn’s name and address written in her own hand on the verso. She rented rooms at 3539 Kelton Avenue in Westwood, Los Angeles in January 1947 – the first home she lived in alone.
A household name at the time, Paris had taught child actress Natalie Wood to blow bubblegum rings for her breakthrough movie, Miracle on 34th Street. As the story goes, Natalie then introduced him to ‘my friend Marilyn Monroe’ on the set of Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! in March 1947 – and he then asked Marilyn for a date.
This seems a little strange, considering that Natalie was just eight years old, and her ‘friend’ Marilyn only had a walk-on role (mostly cut) in what would be her first movie. Incidentally, her Kelton Avenue address still exists today, though possibly not in its original structure.
SOLD for $11,875
At left, one of two colour prints of Norma Jeane photographed by Andre de Dienes in 1945; and at right, Marilyn posing for De Dienes on the patio of her Hotel Bel Air suite in 1953.
SOLD for $687.50 (left); and $2,250 (right)
“Vintage 35mm colour transparencies on ANSCO film in original mount (originally produced from 8″ x 10” format camera with Kodachrome colour film transparency) of Marilyn Monroe, May 27, 1949, of ‘Red Velvet,’ Nude Poses #1, #2, #5, #6, #9 for ‘Golden Dreams’ Calendar, 1952, and black lace teddy overlay from Pose #1, for ‘The Lure of Lace’ Calendar, 1955, by Tom Kelley Studios, with PROCESSED BY / PAVELLE COLOR and ANSCO COLOR stamped on the mount.”
SOLD for $6,875
A 2-page management contract with a William Morris Agency letterhead, dated March 2, 1949 and signed by Marilyn. With the support of agent Johnny Hyde, Marilyn secured breakout roles in The Asphalt Jungle and All About Eve before negotiating a 7-year contract with Twentieth Century-Fox in December 1950.
SOLD for $6,875
A studio issue publicity shot by Frank Powolny inscribed by Marilyn to Vernon Rickard, a bit player and gofer: ‘To Vern, It was a pleasure to work with you/Love and kisses, Marilyn Monroe.’ Rickard went on to play an uncredited role as a hotel guest in Move Over Darling, the 1963 reboot of Marilyn’s shelved last film, Something’s Got to Give, starring Doris Day and James Garner.
SOLD for $9,375
From a set of 35mm colour transparencies on Ektachrome film in original mount, of Marilyn with her ‘Anything Goes’ band for Goodwill Tour for U.S. Troops at Daegu, South Korea, in February 1954, by a U.S. Air Force still photographer. Marilyn is first seen wearing a 6147th B-15 Tactical Control Group jacket, which was standard issue for aircrew and pilots after 1943, loaned by Hilda Benning, the friend of military escort Ollie Palmer. Marilyn later wrote to Hilda: ‘Dear Bugs, Thanks for the loan of your jacket – I didn’t let it out of my sight the whole time – I couldn’t, (Ollie kept reminding me). It kept me soooo warm. Thanks.’
SOLD for $12,500
At left, an original 1954 photo by Jean Howard; and at right, an image from the 1956 ‘Black Sitting‘ in a later print by Milton Greene.
SOLD for $2,500 (left) and $2,250 (right)
An original Masonite board hand-painted in black letters, ‘ACTORS STUDIO‘ against a painted white background, encased in its original black wooden frame. This sign matches a 1956 photo of Marilyn standing outside the building on West 44th Street in Manhattan, holding up a poster for Baby Doll, as she arrived for a press call to promote ticket sales for the film’s premiere, a fundraiser for the Actors Studio.
SOLD for $65,625
From a set of images by Milton Greene, relating to The Prince and the Showgirl. Includes a contact sheet showing Marilyn at a press conference with her director, co-star and co-producer, Laurence Olivier, at New York’s Plaza Hotel in February 1956; a print showing Marilyn sipping tea during another press conference, at London’s Savoy Hotel in July 1956; and photos from the set of the film, originally titled The Sleeping Prince.
SOLD for $625
Above, from a set of 35mm colour transparencies photographed by Richard C. Miller during filming of Some Like It Hot in 1958; and below, from a set of 35mm colour transparencies photographed by Eve Arnold during shooting of The Misfits in 1960.
SOLD for $3,750 (above) and $5,000 (below)
UPDATE:
Marilyn’s Theda Bara costume went unsold, having not met the $200,000 reserve. It will remain on offer for $250,000 until August 4, 2025 (the 63rd anniversary of Marilyn’s passing.)
The Marilyn Report 
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